DayofPal– In a significant step toward fulfilling the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, Hamas has announced it will release six Israeli captives on Saturday.
The move, confirmed by senior Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya, marks a crucial milestone in the ongoing negotiations aimed at de-escalating attacks.
Among those set to be freed are Hisham Al-Sayed and Avera Mengistu. In exchange, Israel is expected to release a number of Palestinian detainees, adhering to the terms outlined in the agreement.
As part of the preparations for the second phase of negotiations, Hamas will also return four bodies on Thursday, including those of the Bibas family. The handover of additional remains, agreed upon in the first phase, is set to continue into the sixth week of the ceasefire implementation.
Al-Hayya emphasized that these measures demonstrate Hamas’s commitment to honoring the deal, while also urging Israel to uphold its end of the agreement without delays or exceptions.
He stressed the necessity of allowing heavy machinery into Gaza to recover bodies trapped under the rubble—a demand that includes both Palestinian martyrs and Israeli prisoners killed in Israeli airstrikes.
Al-Hayya accused Israel of stalling on engaging in the second phase of negotiations, which was originally scheduled to commence on the 16th day after the ceasefire was signed.
He reiterated Hamas’s readiness to proceed with discussions immediately, reaffirming the movement’s stance on ensuring all agreed-upon terms are fully implemented.
The ceasefire agreement, brokered with the assistance of international mediators, remains a fragile but critical pathway toward de-escalation.
The coming days will reveal whether both sides can sustain this momentum and pave the way for a more comprehensive resolution to the war.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=60730
